US rig count up 13 this week to 1,791; ND up 1

HOUSTON — Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by 13 this week to 1,791.

The Houston-based company said in its weekly report Friday that 1,397 rigs were exploring for oil and 388 for gas. Six were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago there were 1,914 active rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Louisiana gained five rigs, California gained four, Alaska and New Mexico each gained two and Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming each gained one.

Texas lost three rigs and West Virginia lost one. Arkansas, Colorado and Pennsylvania were unchanged.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.